Nestled in the north of Barcelona, you'll find this beautiful park designed by Gaudí himself.
When you wander the streets of Barcelona everywhere you turn, something new will catch your eye on the impressive cityscape. However, for a rather different perspective on this beautiful city, head to Park Guell in the Gracia district to the north of the town centre, for beautiful views and where you’ll certainly be able to get your bearings. Designed by Gaudí and built between 1900 and 1914, it has many quirky fixtures including its covered walkways, a mosaic-tiled terrace, and famous gingerbread-style houses.
Spanning over 150,000 square metres, the park was originally destined to be the site of a housing complex for the great and the good of Catalonia. However, only two houses from the original plans were ever built – one of which was home to Gaudí himself, and is open to this day as the Gaudí House Museum. Pay a visit to this museum to see the architect’s furniture and to find out more about his great works.
Enter the park through the entrance at the foot of the hill, passing by the unmissable giant gingerbread house-style gatehouses. At the bottom of a stairway, Stop for a photo in front of the mosaic statue in front of the dragon fountain.
From this point, continue up the hill to the mosaic terrace situated at the summit. Shaped in the form of a sea serpent, the terrace offers an unparalleled vantage point from which to look out and admire the entire city. In the summer, the crowds flock here to watch the sun go down – though it’s less busy if you are visiting in the winter months.
Follow the walking paths that cross the park to see shrubbery filling the space. There are benches dotted around which were designed by the legendary Spanish architect and are the ideal place to catch your breath and sit for a while.
The entrance to Park Guell is 20 minutes’ walk uphill from the closest metro station. Catching a bus is also an option. The park is free to enter and opens from 10 a.m. every day, though closing times vary throughout the year.
